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Glite Dictionary
sulfur oxide

sulfur oxide

5.3
Compounds made of sulfur and oxygen, often gases that pollute air like sulfur dioxide
  • noun
  • /ˈsʌlfər ˈaɪkaɪd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : óxido de azufre
  • When sulfur oxide combines with water vapor, it can form acid rain that harms ecosystems.

Examples

  • The factory emits sulfur oxide into the atmosphere, contributing to air pollution.

  • The factory emitted sulfur oxide into the atmosphere.

  • Chemists studied the reaction rates of different sulfur oxide compounds under varying conditions.

  • Reducing sulfur oxide emissions is essential for improving air quality in urban areas.

  • The combustion of coal can release large amounts of sulfur oxide into the atmosphere.

  • Many sulfur oxides contribute to air pollution.

  • Scientists studied the effects of sulfur oxide on the environment and human health.

Synonyms

sulfur dioxide
vssulfur oxide
  • Specialized
7 4.5

A colorless gas with a strong bad smell that harms breathing and pollutes the air

is a broader class including that specific compound and others

Surface Forms

sulfur oxide singular
sulfur oxides plural
sulphur oxides plural
sulphur oxide singular

Morphology

sulfur + oxide

The term 'sulfur oxide' is a direct composition of 'sulfur' (the element) + 'oxide' (a compound with oxygen), so a learner who knows those words can infer it denotes compounds of sulfur and oxygen (e.g., SO₂). This is a standard, cross-linguistically common scientific naming pattern, making the meaning readily derivable for B1 learners.

Etymology

Sulfur oxide comes from simple chemistry: it names a substance made when sulfur combines with oxygen, so the part oxide shows there is oxygen in the compound. So 'sulfur combined with oxygen' is the literal idea, which is why the term is used for gases like sulfur dioxide that form when coal or oil burns.